Taper



Aug. 27, 1946. JQ C. URBANK 2,406,518 TAPER v Filed Julyy 26, 1943 r Patented Aug'. 27,` 1946 OFFICE y' TAPER John C. Urbank, St. Paul, Minn.

Application July 26, 1943, Serial No. 496,148

My invention relates to' an improvement in tapers, and more particularly in that type of taper used in the lighting of candle Iwicks and the like.

Tapers are often used in church services for lighting candle wicks. A holder is usually pro- 6 claims. (ci. 674-22) vided comprising two tubular elements projecting from a handle and arranged in side by side relation. The ends of these tubular elements opposite the handle are usually bent in oppositeV directions, one to support a candle snuifer, and the other to contain the taper for lighting the candle. One end of this taper is preferably supported in a slidable clamp in the tube accessible through a slot in the side of the tube. The other end of the taper projects from the end of the tube and is lighted for the purpose of lighting one, or a series of candle wicks.

The candle carrying the wick is often supported in a cup arranged to catch candle drippings. Accordingly to bring the lighted taper into contact with the wick, it is sometimes essential that the projecting end of the taper be bent downwardly from the position in which it Would normally leave the end of the tube. It has been attempted to bend the wick downwardly yby grasping the projecting end of the wick and bending it in the desired direction. When this is done, however, the point of bend is directly adjacent the end'oi` the tube. Accordingly, when the bent end-of the taper is ignited and burns toward the tube end the end of the tube itself is heated so that the Wax of the taper adheres thereto. As a result the taper freezes in the tube and can not -be ejected by subsequent operation of the supporting clamp or slide.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a taper with a 'series of longitudinally spaced bending points therein located a predetermined distance apart. As a result the taper may be ejected from the tube end until one of the bending points of the taper is spaced outwardly from the end of the tube. Accordingly the free end of the taper may be bent at the bending point in any desired direction without affecting the portion of the taper close to the tube.y AS a result the burning portion of the taper is spaced somewhat above the end of the tube and the material forming the tube is not heated by the flame. As a result the tendency is not created for the taper to stick to the tube, and continued operation of the taper is simplified.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the taper may be readily bent at a point spaced outwardly from the end of the tube,

rather than at the mouth of the tube. This feature is of importance, as heating of th-e tube will result when the taper is bent at a point adjacent the mouth of the tube.

A further feature of the present invention lies' in the formation of points of bend in spaced intervals along the taper. In preferred formJ circumferential grooves are provided in the taper at equal intervals. With such a construction the taper may be bent with equal ease in any desired direction. If desired, however, the fold lines may be arranged along a transverse line of fold, in which case the bending of the taper yin but one directionis facilitated. In such an instance the taper should be mounted in a predetermined relationship to the tube. Points of bend could likewise be formed by transverse or circumferential grooves formed in the taper and later lled with softer wax. wax could be provided in the taper at intervals so as to simplify bending at these points.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that'the heat created by the lighted end of the taper melts the wax of thetaper adjacent the flame and causes this wax to fill in the trans'- verse or circumferential grooves about the taper before the flame reaches these grooves. As a result the taper burns as well at one point as at another and there is no danger of the taper going out when the flame reaches one of the bending points` previously described.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and. fully set forth in the following 'specification and claims.,

In the drawing forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a candle snuffer and candle lighter, showing the taper projecting therefrom.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through a portion of the candle snuffer and lighter.

. Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure V2 showing the taper supporting device in Ltaper receiving position. i y

Figure lis a plan view of a taper embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 5 is a modified form of taper, from that illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a modified form of taper construction, differing from the forms illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

The candle igniting and snung instrument is indicated in general by the numeral A, and is commonly used in church services. The instrument A embodies a handle l0 supporting a pair Similarlyshort links of soft f tubular elements II and I2, which are held in substantially parallelk relationship by any suitable means, such as by the bands I3. The tubular member II is provided With a curved upper end I4 to which is connected a candle snufng element I5 of any suitable design. This snuing element I5 preferably extends over the llame in a manner to extinguish the same.

The tube I2 isalso provided with a curved upf per end t6' and Ais designed tob slidably support: the taper illustrated in general by the letter Bi The taper B projects beyond the end of the tube. I2, as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

In order to slidably support the taper B, vari-f ous means have been provided for anchoring one end of the taper. In the form of construction illustrated the slidable plug If'IfisrprovidedLwithf.

a projecting lug I9 which extends through aV longitudinal slot 2i) in the tube I2. By meansfef' the lug I9 the plug I1 may be vertically moved longitudinallyl 0f they tubefl2f. A flexible resilw i'ent strip 2li isxsecuredituthefupper-endf/o plug;4 I'I .and is; provided with` an. aperture 22' through which the enck I8. of.' the tapenBrrnay; be threaded as best. illustrated, inFigurer'Z or the drawing... Various: other, means; may beprovided. for-supporting: the lower end-` of the taper Biene; of. these; means. comprising a resilient, clampng sncket which clamps; opposite sides: 01'. thltapei: end I8;

'IEliey taper; B'is.preferablyfformechasbest illus?.` trated; in: Figure of the dreaming,z and'sincludes:

- bend readily atvthe sections 29, but will not bend readily through the length of the sections 2'I.

point between the points of bend of the taper.

As att-result? the taper may.. be ibentt along a line spaced fromthe end of tlietube so thatthe ame has little tendency to heat the end of the tube. By maintaining the flame at a reasonable interf va1 from the end of the tube, the tube will not shortf lengths 2%rof: taperseparatedzby .cirmimferential grooves 24. taper; is.. ordinarily: formed: .of Wax emborliedrinzl aswicking material; andr. .obviously the Wicle acts; to: cannect the: lengths123fottapen Because ottherechidtionsin. thiclinesszof. the' taperatthe grnnvlesz24,.the. tapan Willzbendlreadily atthesea points.

C formed in any usuaL or desiredi mannenusuchr a's; by" impregnatingf strands; of wicking Wthzwax or other" suitable. materiali. The'taper. C;;diflersi from the taper B in-.thatz-,thez shorulerrgths :orisections.l of taper are :separatedlby transverse foldtlines 26. Asia' resultztheltapezfllustratedlim Figure- 5 Willireadily: foldf alongV a plane'.y inter*- secting: the drawing. and: arranged-f' altsu'bstain-r tially right: angles thereto,v but; willi not readily; curve. in the' directionoithe plane ofL th'erdI-rawL ing sheet. Accordingly', Whletheftaper' malyibe: b'entupfor. down, theisanremustlbehheld improper relation, to7 the: tube I2 to*V Idozsoa Therefore fthe: taper." C. differs. from: the@A taper1Bfinz'the fact that: WhileY the'. taperV BE maybend; universallyv in any direction the taper C may bend only in a, Ising-le plane'. Y

lin-Figure 6j ofi the 1 d'ravvingl?r disclose avtaper D1 which may also be constructed inaccordance with` the teachings Jo the: present: invention. The taperiD-'Iis formedS of *wicking-v material' im-Y pregnated in: Waxf. The taper is constructed, however, of.' lengths 21TH formed.- oft relatively"=stiff?V or rigid Wax and separated by shorter section'sl` of a. softer Wax. As` al resull',.theiv taper-D may heat and the flame will normally be above the :'endofthetube. When the flame reaches one of thepointsoibend th'e wax forming the taper has a tendency to fill any groove formed in the taper previously to the time the flame actually reaches the groove. Thus the burning of the taper is in no Way affected by. providingV spacedfiold lines therein. f

In accordance. with the patent statutesl have; described the principles of construction androp eration. of1 my. taper, and while. IY have endeavored to sett forth the best embodiments. thereof.,z desiretovhaveitunderstood that obvious changes.r may be madev Within the4 scope;A of the following? claims without departing. from the; spirit oftmye invention- 1. Ataper of lthefclass.f describedhavinga wick.

comprising a5 series of. strands! and.. aywax coating?, the coating1 being; formeda withv afpluralityg o spaced apartcircumferential grooves ter talle-uur-n pose set fort-h.

2. .AJ Waxeditaperpf theolassdescribedhaving; a Wick and a eXible coatinggoficombustiblezrmaf terial; encircling; theiwick', ygroei/.eel cutl partially throughv the w-a-x coa-ting, .said-`v grooves. being: spaced substantially; an intchi apart for." the: poser setfort'h; f

3'. A-. taper compris-ingfsa wick: h'avingsa rela-1 tively rigid; body` of. combustible material encina cling the; same, .sardi bodyy hav-ing; a; serieel of spaced lines. of: fold; therein: at which; jree-f sistance: tobending of' the tapeneistmaterially' reduced.' f

41.. :taperr comprising: ra Wick. vhaving .aafrelmtively rigidgbudyv ofr cmnbustible maderial cling; the' sarna. said; body including. .at series .lofi spaced. circunrlerenti all rgrenves extendingzthereE-s about.'1

5:.. Ai. taper.' compris'in-g:y a. trialsy having airbodyr or combustiblefmaterialienrirclmg thersame;.iaird a series of transverse foldliies'; atspaeedninten-x valszirrsaidbodyn.

6;. A, selffsustainingr Waal taper: vinclutlirrgs :at Wick and. a. flexilol'ef coating' or combustibles m'a terialA encircling?Y saldi .Wick,. Vgrooves 4misa-idx' body: von apposite sides oifisaidi wickstotpronizlera'. relatively'fnigid'rbodyf having somewhat l'essrrigdweakened pointstorlbend at intervals-througlithe'.

V.ternir C; URBANE. 

